Stapling machine



Jan. 9, 1923.,

3. HOLZHAUSEN.

'STAPUNG MACHINE.

FILED DEC, 14. 1921..

wiimnw r in stapling Machines, of which the i ollow- Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

* -Nrr -o STATES PATENT. OFFICE, f

momma .r. HOLZHAUSEN, or wnsrron'r, c'oiinnc'rrcu'r, ASSIGNOR TO THE CQMPO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or wnsrrorvr, CONNECTIQUT, A CORPORATION or new YORK.

STAPLING MACHINE.

Application filed December 14, 1921. Serial No.'522,220.

To all'whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. Hon/.- HAUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of \Yestport. county" of Fairlield,' State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements ing is a specification. reference being bad to the accompanying drawings. illustrative of one particular embodiment of my invention.

This invention relates to improvements in stapling machines. and in particular appertains to such machines in which a. pre- -formed-strip of staples is automatically l'ed under a plunger so that the proper operatlon of the plunger severs single .staple from, the strip and places and clinches the same. WVhile stapling machines of this general type are known, the particular embodiments to which this application applies in volves constructions which will insure the proper positioning ofeach individual staple.

use has its prongs bent. the machine will straighten the prongs, and in any event will prevent the bending of the prongs in the operation of severing the individual prong from the strip, Furthermore. the use of these improvements assures the straighten- 7 ing of bent prongs, or the prevention against bending, so that in the actuation of the machine thev prong will be properly directed for its journey into. the clinched position, thereby insuring perfection of actuation of the machine and; the avoidance of clogging of the machine, which latter has been a.

greatdifficulty in stapling machines heretofore used. These andother advantages, as

I .automatically by the relation and co-action of parts which will be hereinafter described in connection with particular embodiments of my invention shownv in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a stapling machine with the hand-piece and upper end of the plunger in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axis of the plunger and the immediately as- ,sociated' parts of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a. similar section on the axis of the plunger when the plunger is depressedin the clinching position.

the plunger at right angles to the ready for j hand-piece Fig. l is a section on the vertical axis of section shown in Fig. 3.

vFig. 5 is a vertical section'on the axis of the plunger similar to Fig. l. but double the scale and with slight modifications.

' Fig. (i is a-horizontal sectionat the lower end ot'the plunger and immediately associated parts on the line 6--(3,-Fig.

Fig, "(is a. horizontal section at the lower end of the plunger. and immediately slir- 1-'ounclingparts on the line. 77 of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a. portion.

of the. plunger with the staple prong straightening plate attached and the straightening plate releasing or tripping stop shown in relative position.

In the particular embodiment hereshown,

the/base 1 is supported on feet 2 with the usual staple. anvil 3 forming an integral. part et the base, while two legs 4. integral with the base, carry pivots for the guide track 5 secured in. the body C), in a manner permitting the pre formed strip" 9 toride along the track 5 to a position above the channel 10 where the end staple may pass down after severance from the strip. to the 'anvil 3 where it is clinched as shown in position 9 in Figs. Land The. plunger 12 1s guided between the in wardly facing walls formed at the end of the body (3. the outwardly projecting ridge on the plunger closely fitting the adjacent portion of the walls, while the lateral flanges 12-12 on the plunger have the sides of the guide plate 13 on their outer surface, and thus with the guid'e these lateral flanges engage recesses in the walls in the end of the body 6, forming channels whereby theplunger and guide plate reciprocatein. the manner hereinafter more fully described'.

lhe plunger 12 has the cushion-head or the= cushion-head and on top of the body 6, tends to normally raise the head 14 and thereby the, plunger into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2; The plunger also has the cam lGengagin'g the fecdoperating plunger 1'7 to actuate the same in the usual manner so that a depression of the. plunger sets the feed mechanism,-which upon the 'retraction. of the plunger moves the pre formed staple strip one step in. advance end staple above the guide channel 10.

14 and a spring 15 resting under I .to position the- I removin r The stwightener or straightening guide 13 comprises the straigl'itening flanges l8- 18, which, shown in Fig. 2, normally protrude below the longer end of the plunger 12. and as shownin Fig.6 these flanges embrace or engage the back edge oi the prongs of the foremost staple when the plunger starts downward on its journey. The upper end of the guide 13 engages the recess 19 in the sides of the plunger so that the plunger will force the guide 13 and its straight enmg flanges l8 downward during the first traction-a1 part of the journey of the plunger, and thereby force the flanges 18 between the legs of the first or foremost staple and the second staple on the end of the strip. assuring the straightened condition. or in case Qt a bent comlition. forcing the straightening of the prongs of the foremost staple so that they are axially parallel withthe movement of direction of the plungcr, and thereby directed in the proper position for their journey through the balance of the guide channels and to clinching position, as illustrated at 9, Figs. e and 5.

in order that the straightening guide 13 and its straightening flanges 'ltl shall not puncture the paper which is being stapled, and if desired shall not even engage the paper, there is provided a trip release con sisting of the plate :20 provided with an ear 21, having curved edges engaging the ears .22 laterally projecting from the upper ends 13 of the guide l3 so that the engagement of these ears 22 with the tripping cam or flange 21 releases the upper ends 13 from the recesses JP-l5) in the sides of the plunger, thereby permitting the plunger to continue on its downward journey to effect the stapling, without carrying the guide 13 any farther than the point. at which it is released by the tripping cam 21. The bridge l3 holds the two sides of the guides 13 in in spaced relation, thereby forming a unit grid of thoguide and straightenin flanges and releasing engaging means at tie upper end, which is adapted to function automatically during the operation of the stapling inachine'when the plunger is driven down to perform its Work.

The cam 16 on the plunger istapered on the lower side and squared, or has an abrupt upper face adapted to engage the pin 23, which is a removable pin passing through holes fromside to side near the upper front corner of the body 6, which thereby form sa stop for the upward movement of the plunger when it is pressed upward by the spring 15, and holds the plunger assembled with the body for ordinary use. This pin 23 can be readily removed to permit the upward withdrawal of the plunger and with it the guiding grid, or frame 3., so soon as plate is removed, by the screw m and, conversely,

the several parts are finished and may be assembled by inserting the grid and guide frame 13 on to the side ot' the plunger 12, which is then inserted between the walls of the casing 6 above the channels l(lll) after which the assembled parts are secured in position byattaching the plate 20 by the screw 20", and then inserting the pin 23 which prevents the removal ot the plunger by the cam to engaging with the pin 23.

For the purpose of straightening the end staple. or for holding it straight or severed from the strip 9. the straightening flanges lnl8 project necessarily only to the extent shown in Fig. 5. at which point the guide plate 13 is released by the cam 21 tripping the ears 222:2. so that the remaining trip of the staple is through the channel Ql forming the lower part of the channel 10 and contituting a close confining guide for the journey ot' the staple beyond the ends of the straightening flanges. The channel ll) is tor this purpose larger, as shown in Fig. 5,

't'rom the top to a point near the bottom to accomintalate the sides of the guide platel l,

and is restricted at 2%. thereby forming a re- ('ess which furthermore limits the movement of the guide plate 13 after its upper end has been released by the tripping cam :21.

in either form the return upward movement of the plunger 12 carries the guide 13 until the lower ends ot the straightening flanges l818 are above the normal position i of the pre-torn'icd staple strip as shown in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the horizontal or lateral feed of the staple strip by the usual automatic means in order to position the end staple in readiness for the next operation. The t'rictional engagement between the sides li2--l2 ot' the plunger and the straightening guide 13 causes the guide to be moved upward on the retraction of the plunger until the upward movement is arrested by the engagement of the bridge 13" with the trip or stop 25, which is shown as a tang protruding from the wall 21 of the plate 20. This stop limiting the upward movement of the plate 13, permits the plunger 12 to pass upward until the notches 19l9 in the sides 12 --12 of the plunger 'register with the upper ends 13 -13 and by reason of the spring in these ends 13--13 tending to bring these upper ends together, they snap into the depressions 19'l9 and are thus brought automatically in position to effect a positive engagement with the plunger for its next downward ioo stroke, which forces the straightening flanges 18 48 positively into their functioning position to a suilicient extent to back up the inner sides of the staple legs at the time the plunger severs them, as a preliminary to the drivin and clinching action.

lit will thus be seen that this stapler or stapling device, or as it sometimes called a binder, combines in a simple mechanism the various cooperating parts whereby a single stroke. on the hand-plate drives the plungerwhich severs a staple from a preformed staple strip, and with the further movement as a result of the single stroke, drives the staple through the paper or other sheets and clinches the same, and at the same time assures the straightening of the staple prior to and during the severing of the individual staple from the strip, and after the operation of clinching the parts automatically,return to their initial position with any automatic feeding of the staple strip forrepetition of the stapling action immediately thereafter. The guide flanges 18 essentially back up the inner side of each of the two staple prongs in order to assure the prongs being directly properly downward in the direction for perforating of the sheet and theclinching. These. straightening flanges also retract on the upward movement so as not to interfere with the immediately following automatic feed of the staple strip, and, nevertheless the cooperation of the parts assures on the successive operation the proper engagement of the guide flanges, or at least the proper positioning of the guide flanges, for the purpose of preventing any tilting of the staple legs at thetime of the severing operation, and in addition the straightening flanges will force any bent legs of a staple into proper functioning position preliminary to the moment of contact of the shearing end of-the plunger with the top surface of the staple. By the positive engagement of the upper ends of the frame which carries the straightening flanges at its lower end, the downward action is positive to the extent necessary to straighten any bent staple, and Whether the straigl1tening flanges move farther than the initial position of the staple may vary in different machines, and the remaining journey of the staple after the severing. act, can be through the usual side channels or may be between one usual channel wall and the inner wall of the straightening flanges, although after severing the itaple is loose and requires. no

frictionalho d for the remainder of its journey during the setting and clinching steps'of the operation.

It is-of 1mportance, however, that having a positive movement of the straightening flanges. to a sufficient extent to force the straightening of bent staples, the straightening "flange must thereafter be freed from movement so as not to. interfere with the functions of the plunger in severing and clinching, and, furthermore, automatic means is necessary to return the straighteninp; parts to their initially: functioning position. Inv the form herewith specifically described and illustrated, the cam trip mechanism is automatic and effective, and

the individual staples,

the precise dimensions of the sliding frame and the plunger, and in fact the general arrangement and dimensions oi any equ1valent part performing the straightening action, may be varied without. departing from nation with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples of a member having means for engaging the foremost staple:- of said strip and holding the same against turning, and means for automatically stopping the movement of the engaging means after the severing of the foremost staple and before the driving means has completedits operation.

3. In a Strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severinganddriving a "member having means for engaging the foremost staplle on said strip and holdingthe same against turning, said. member being guided for rectilinear movement transverse to the line of movement of. the staple strip to carry said engaging means into and .out'of position was to engage said staple, and.

means for stopping the movement of said member in conjunction with the actuation of the driving means and before the driw ing means has completed its operation.

4. A. combination binder comprising a plunger and staple securing means, means for feeding a strip of pre formedstaples transversely to the direction of movement of the plunger, a guideWa-y for the plun-.

ger the latter having a cu tting and driving end, a slide having parallel portions at 1 opposite sides of the plunger for straight.- ening the prongs of any bent staples prior to the cutting action of the plunger, and means co-acting with the slide to arrest the movement of the slide upon a "pred'eten mined movement of theplunger.

5-. In a staplingmachine of the type de= scribed, a staple severing and a staple driving plunger, a slide co-acting with the-plunger, faces on saidslide to project behind the prongs of eaci staple during the initial. movement of the plunger and means to arrest the movement oftheslide after apred'elac at we termined journey of the plunger and. after the severing of the staple and before the plunger has completed its driving operation.

{5. A stapling machine having a plunger i'or severing staples from a strip and driving said staples through an outlet or channel, in combination with means associated with the plunger for straightening the prongs of each staple preliminary to severing the same and a trip to interrupt the movement of said straightening means and release it from the eli'ect of the action of the plunger.

7. A stapling machine of the class described, having a pie-formed staple strip and means to feed the same, a severing member and a plunger to drive individual staples aitersevering a straightening member normally out of the path of the staple strip and meansco-acting with the severing member whereby the straightening member is interposed between the prongs of the end staple and the prongs of the next staple in advance of the severing operation, and means for interrupting the movement of the straighten ing member during the further operation of the driving member.

8. A stapling machine of the class described, having a pre-formed staple strip and means to feed the same, a severing memher and a plunger to drive individual staples after severing, a straigthening member norn'ially out of the path of the staple strip and means co-aoting with the severing mem.---

ber whereby the straigl' tening member is interposed between the prongs of the end staple and the prongs of tl e next staple in advnce of the severing operation, means for limiting the movement of the straigl'iten tracting movement of ing member after the severing operation andmeans for resetting the'straightening memher to its initial position.

.9. In a stapling machine of the character described, a plunger and a straiglitening guide co-acting with said plunger, means for releasing the guide from the movement of the plunger and a stop for limiting the rethe guide and a separate stop for limiting the retracting movement of the plunger.

10. in a stapling machine of the character described, a plunger, a straightening guide co-acting with the plunger, the plunger and the straightening guide being provided with devices whereby the plunger and the guide have positive engagement during a portion of the working movement; of the plunger, and means for effecting disengagement of the guide from the plunger ata point in the working movement of the plunger.

11. In a. stapling machine of the character desoribed, a plunger, a straightening guide co-acting with the plunger, the plunger being provided with'notches in its sides and the straightening guide being provided with spring ends to engage such notches and means co-operating with said spring ends in the movement of the plunger and guide to disengage the spring ends from said notches. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this application, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of December, 1921.

RICHARD J. HOLZHAUSEN.

Witnesses LAURA Lnn, SAML. A. PURDY. 

